Home                    Current Undertakings                     Resources                      Events                     Contact                Français


EDUCATE YOURSELF, MAKE A PLAN

 Because of entrenched ideas/myths/beliefs that have kept families estranged from the after-death process,
we need to educate ourselves about what is possible in our local areas by reaching out to our local funeral services
businesses and cemeteries to find those willing to work with us to overcome some of these bureaucratic hurdles.

Contact your local funeral homes and ask about their practices!
Advocate for greener practices and family-led participation!
Join the movement to reclaim community deathcare!


Some sample questions you can ask the funeral home depending on your wishes:

Do you offer a supervised home funeral without embalming by using a refrigerated casket, cooling blanket or some other method?

Do you allow for a private short visitation without embalming?

Do you welcome a family to wash and dress their loved one at your facility if this is their wish?

Do you accept homemade caskets?  What materials do you accept?  Do you charge for this service? 

Do you have a biodegradable option for the plastic body bag/liner currently used for both cremations and burials?


Some sample questions you can ask the cemetery depending on your needs:

Do you require burying in a concrete vault or can the deceased be buried directly in ground?

What is the minimum depth of grave you will accept?
(most cemeteries have standardized 6 feet deep, but the provincial minimum requirement is 1metre.
Green burials are typically shallow graves, the standard being 3ft)

Can the family dig the hole and shovel the dirt back in the hole? 

Do you allow for burials during the winter?  If not, will you receive the deceased after storage if the body has not been embalmed?

Do you accept homemade caskets? What are the material limitations if any?

Do you accept unmarked graves?

Are you working towards a green burial section in your cemetery?

What are your prices?  Is there an extra charge for digging the grave (called ‘opening’ the grave)?

How much time do you need for the grave to be dug after death? (some will have time constraints)


Until you have a natural burial ground in your local area, the best ways to ‘green’ your end-of- life are:

1.    Say NO to embalming.  If you do choose embalming, choose a funeral home who offers a non-toxic alternative to formaldehyde.
2.    Choose a bio-degradable container for your loved one’s remains, whether it’s a simple casket or an urn. 
3.    Forego using a headstone that requires a cement footing.
4.    And most importantly, shop before you drop!  Contact your local funeral home, cemetery or crematorium to let them know you are interested in greener options. The more the consumers demand greener options, the more the industry will be compelled to respond to that demand.

Material appearing in this ‘green’ section of the website has been sourced from:
http://www.greenburialcanada.ca/
https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/
https://naturalburialassociation.ca/


GREEN DEATHCARE MOVEMENT

EARTH FRIENDLY BURIALS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTALIST

WHAT IS GREEN OR NATURAL BURIAL?

GREEN BURIAL IS A CONTINUUM

EMBALMING
History of Embalming
Myths about Embalming
Truths about Embalming
Source Material/Resources

ISN'T CREMATION GREEN?

AQUAMATION -- A GREENER ALTERNATIVE TO CREMATION?

LAWS & LOGISTICS